phil. >> reporter: that's right, dana. that's a good point. one of the ways to get people on board with this central subway, well, how about giving them a subway stop? here's the story. >> if we looked at the future of the city of san francisco it would make sense. >> reporter: that was the muni chief ed reiskin saying why he proposes to move the sway from chinatown to this abandoned theater in north beach. >> it would be great for north beach. it's an important neighborhood for the city. it would be great for the city. >> reporter: it would also be good politics. you see, the subway was going to stop here in chinatown. but to get all the equipment in and out to build it, they would have to keep boring on down the street to north beach and pull all the machinery out by digging a big pitch here at this intersection. >> it's going to disrupt the whole neighborhood and damage business. >> reporter: so the feeling was, chinatown gets the subway station and north beach gets the shaft. >> i've heard that phrase. now, i think they raised a very legit